This was a good letter. I got memories from LT rolling around in my head, at the beginning and at the end... In the middle, You showed me the cycle of love and obedience, faithfulness and wisdom... I pray you would give me wisdom! Thank you for letting me, a doubting, failing sinner, come into your presence and praise you and love you and try to do what You want. Your love deserves endless praise.
Love,
John 13
I'm having flashbacks to LT. Sitting on the couch and the boys washing the girls' feet. Stories of Tom washing the feet of people in India, to show that he doesn't want to be treated like (almost) royalty. To show that he loves these people. What Jesus did here has been done many times, but I'm sure it's nothing like when Jesus did it. He's the Son of God and he is washing feet, with love.
And Jesus says someone will betray him... and FREEZE! Last supper by Leonardo di Vinci.
But really, things are getting very confusing for these disciples very fast.
Jesus is cramming in all the most important things to tell the disciples. He's showed them the spirit of humility and the attitude of serving others. Now he tells them to love one another.
14
Still saying the most important things now, because time is short: I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
v 16 For each and every Christian, Jesus has personally asked God to send the Holy Spirit. Me gusta esta fotographia.
If you love God, you do what he says. Because you love God.
And the world has learned that you do nothing except what Dad tells you to. Some may just see it as craziness, but You did EVERYTHING... no matter the cost or temporary pain...
And as you obey him (because you love him), you love him more. It's a non-vicious cycle :-P
Love, obey, expect difficulties, testify His love.
Proverbs 3
v 3 Love and faithfulness. Exactly what was said above.
v 26 God my Confidence. I like that title. It's a good one.
Proverbs 4
Wisdom is the thing you need to pursue. God's wisdom will make obedience and love easier than if you're a fool. I mean, I think we will all be recovering fools... unless there are some among us who are recovering evils... hehe... :-\
v 12 and we would all like to run the good race. So we need wisdom to keep us upright and steady.
v 25 Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you.
THAT is focus.
Revelation 4
Interesting...
It's so annoying. I'm reading about the door to heaven, and the throne and the beasts, and the elders, and everything that's going on, and I can't get the clouds out of my head. I'm like, it doesn't say anything about clouds. That's just an American deal. (or I dunno... is it more international than I know?) But it's HEAVEN there's nothing LIKE it. I wonder if John saw the full effects, even when he wasn't dead... maybe you need your new body to see heaven in all it's glory... like 3d glasses haha.
Also interesting and annoying: I read about the elders and the beasts continually praising and worshiping God, and usually I have a sense of happiness, of joining in and singing the revelation song... but this time it was more a sense of revulsion, I think because I imagine God as a man... if this was going on on earth, it'd be terrible. He'd be a tyrant and destroy the world. I have to remind myself that God is and never will be a tyrant... and he deserves all the praise of the world continually worshiping him. I believe that. But I was surprised to find myself feeling disgusted at that scene. I know in heaven, there's no way those feelings will enter again. They're from Satan and once I see my Lord face to face, there will be no cause for concern. He'll be glorious and obviously God.
Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come.... With all creation I sing, praise to the King of kings. You are my everything, and I will adore you.
Psalm 119:73-96
v 89-96 are AWESOME!! I think my favorite verse is 96 here.
To all perfection I see a limit; but your commands are boundless.
Lord, your commands are beyond perfect!!